When riflemen under General Morgan were dispatched to the Hudson River campaign, General Washington formed a new light infantry company of 800 men under the command of Brig. General Maxwell. On the morning of September 11, Maxwell sent his men west on Nottingham Road (present day Route 1) scouting to find the British. Leading a company of men, Captain Porterfield preceded the other detachments with orders to deliver his fire as soon as met the enemy. The British were at the same time heading east on the same road. Their advance guard consisted of Ferguson's Rifle Corps and the Queen's Rangers, who were to encounter the Americans on their approach to the Kennett Meeting House. Portefield and his men waited to ambush the enemy and as Porterfield shot and hit one of the Queens Rangers, the Battle of Brandywine began.